December 14, 2020 at 8:45 a.m.
Hodag hockey doubles up Waupaca
Hodag hockey doubles up Waupaca
The Hodags overcame a sluggish start at home on Friday night, scored three times in the second period, and beat Waupaca 4-2 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
Four different Hodags scored in the contest as Rhinelander outshot Waupaca 42-23, but Rhinelander had to rally back from a 2-1 deficit in the first period to earn the victory.
"We had really good flow, good tempo," Rhinelander coach M.J. Laggis said. "I think in the second period, we really started finding our way."
Harlan Wojtusik knotted it up for Rhinelander 1:10 into the second period and Cal Laggis scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 5:27 mark of the period. Jake Losch tacked on an insurance goal at the 15:02 mark.
"They were the beneficiaries of really hard forechecking by both guys (Cal Laggis and Jake Losch)," coach Laggis said. "We had Joe Schneider with those guys and Joe just forechecks and backchecks up and down the ice relentlessly. That line was go, and Harlan, Leo (Losch) and Joey (Belanger) were good too. We had two really darn good lines pumping."
Waupaca was never able to get any closer, mustering only two shots on goal in the final period, despite pulling goaltender Hagen Rasmussen for an extra attack with roughly 2:20 remaining.
Freshman Joey Belanger scored for the second time in as many games for the Hodags to open up the scoring at the 2:40 mark of the contest. But Waupaca drew level on an Eli Bartel goal at the 8:18 mark and then Jed Vanden Bush gave Waupaca the lead at the 10:47 mark.
"We did have a slow start. We kind of had an unfortunate goal we gave up that was just one of those where he misplayed a puck," coach Laggis said. "(Goalie) Garrett (Kulhanek) came out, misplayed a puck trying to clear it and clears it into our own guy and brings it back to our own net and Waupaca pops it in. That got us off kilter a little bit then Waupaca had another goal, solid goal, outworked us."
Kulhanek stopped 21 pucks in the win for Rhinelander as he made his second consecutive start in goal.
Meanwhile, coach Laggis said he was pleased with the play of his top two lines.
"Harlan Wojtusik, he carries the mail up and down the ice. There's just no way around it," he said. "I say the same about Joey Schneider too, just a strong, strong kid. Between Joe and Harlan, they probably left a good seven, eight quality chances out there. Even though Joe Schneider didn't score a goal, he was a beast on the forecheck and Harlan just had so many looks. I tell you, when he gets a hot hand look out, because he can put some pucks home."
The Hodags (2-0-0, 2-0-0-0 Great Northern) face Tomahawk in a home-and-home series over the next three days. The two teams will play a non-conference game tonight at the RIA in a replacement for a game the Hodags were scheduled to have against Chequamegon/Phillips. Rhinelander and Tomahawk will reconvene at SARA Park Thursday night for their regularly scheduled GNC matchup.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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